Asia Philippines A persistent infestation of soft scale insects continues to threaten Philippines’s sugar industry, damaging crops and reducing yields in key producing provinces; Authorities are expanding monitoring and pest-control measures to contain the outbreak
Africa Benin A hurricane Struck southeastern Benin; the mayor of Ouinhi toured the hardest-hit villages to assess the damage and offer support; winds left roofs torn off and damaged infrastructure and authorities reassured school year will end as scheduled
Asia Armenia The 2026 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, an international wine competition, will bring to Yerevan 400 wine experts and professional judges from 65 countries to taste 10.000 wines on 21-23 May; Armenian wines will also be presented
Asia Sri Lanka Heavy rains triggered flooding in parts of Sri Lanka, particularly in the district of Gampaha, after a persistent low-pressure system brought widespread showers across several provinces disrupting transports
Asia Azerbaijan Shusha, in the southwest, is undergoing large-scale reconstruction and cultural revitalization, with authorities now preparing to launch the construction of a new Victory Museum as part of ongoing infrastructure and heritage projects in the city
Europe Belgium One of Belgium’s most promising cyclists for a generation, Jilke Michielsen, has tragically died at 19 due to terminal bone cancer; the cycling world mourned the loss of the talented cyclist, who had become a teenage sensation thanks to her successes
America Costa Rica Liberia airport in Guanacaste surpassed visitor records in the first quarter of 2026 and, expecting more high-end travelers, it is entering an expansion phase and is preparing for new concessions
Africa Togo An intercommunal consultation for forest landscape restoration is now active as part of the AFR100 Togo project: mayors, municipal secretaries-general, traditional chiefs and technical ministerial staff met in Kpalimé to discuss key priorities
Europe Belarus 153.700 families opened accounts under the Family Capital Program as of beginning of May, with 82.600 deposits totaling $826 million; FCP is a state initiative to encourage families and address demographic challenges
America Barbados Housing Minister announced his intention to create emergency housing stock in this island for citizens displaced by hurricanes and other event
Africa Tunisia Hundreds of citizens gathered in central Tunis for a social and political rally denouncing economic hardship, rising living costs and restrictions on political freedoms; Protesters called for solutions to the country’s worsening socio-economic conditions
Asia Bahrain Breast cancer screening divisions are planned for public hospitals in an effort to improve women's healthcare services and increase early detection rates across Bahrain; tender was assigned to Yusuf Mahmood Hussain Company for around €1,1 million
Oceania Australia Opposition Leader Angus Taylor plans to guarantee social services - including basic allowances - to Australian citizens only; many argue permanent residents and many more categories should be allowed to access to NDIS
America Haiti Textile workers in northeast Haiti have rejected newly offered minimum wage and vowed continue their strike; tensions at the CODEVI industrial park remain, with thousands of workers demanding a daily wage of roughly $23